It's Too Soon to Give Up. I Must Get Published!
One of the things that surprised me when I posted about the dire situation I find myself in is how many friends and followers came out of the woodwork wanting to help. In particular there's a buddy of mine I have known since highschool who apparently is friends with a literary agent.
He suggested I put together a query letter, synopsis and the first three chapters for whichever of my novels I felt stood the best chance of approval. I assembled all of that for him and mailed it off, but it left me feeling as if there must be more I could do to help myself.
Yet more friends, dear to me beyond measure, have intervened with advice and encouragement. One of them told me I should put all of my short stories and novellas, which are too short to be published on their own, into anthologies. They are grouped by theme: The Institute, Scifi, Horror and Scifi-Horror.
I was surprised I had enough for 4 anthologies between ~89k and ~120k words each. Here's the breakdown:
- 'The Institute' stories (89,393 words, 156 pages)
- Scifi (121,205 words, 211 pages)
- Horror (95,422 words, 164 pages)
- Scifi-horror (104,567 words, 177 pages)
Even so, there were stories that didn't fit anywhere in these themes, like "Okay I Guess". Perhaps one of these days I will write more comedy, just to have enough material for a comedy anthology. For the time being however, this is plenty.
Four huge anthologies, plus eight novels (Including the ones on Amazon). This is enough that, if I could find publishers for all of it, I ought to be able to live comfortably off the residual income. I've had an alternate livelihood prepared all this time, I still don't know for sure what held me back.
If necessity is the mother of invention, then desperation is the mother of motivation. It certainly is an act of desperation to power down hundreds of dollars, but with any luck it will buy me the time I need to finally monetize my writing through traditional channels.
I might still be in for some hard times in the near term. There might be nothing I can do about that. But finally getting the ball rolling on traditional publication gives me some hope that things may yet take a turn for the better.
Thanks For Your Support!
There’s so much out there that you can do and it’s only a matter of hard work and time that you find it and do it . Just like when I lost everything and found steemit
Failure is not an option and when you say "you must", that you keep on rolling and at one point of time you will take it through.
But finally getting the ball rolling on traditional publication gives me some hope that things may yet take a turn for the better.
I hope there are Good days coming for you alex, I wish you luck for the publication, hope all of your publications touch the stars.
Don’t ever give up hope! There is another writer I happen to follow getting his book published @talanhorne. It has already taken so long. He is soo positive about it. I’ve already read few of your novels and I love your style. I consider myself as an average Joe. There is millions like me. I just don’t belive your novels won’t get published. People would loose a lot not getting chance to read your work.
Hello @alexbeyman, thank you for sharing this creative work! We just stopped by to say that you've been upvoted by the @creativecrypto magazine. The Creative Crypto is all about art on the blockchain and learning from creatives like you. Looking forward to crossing paths again soon. Steem on!
Good luck with publishing, the fact that you had enough material for 4 anthologies is pretty impressive.
Giving up is not in my dictionary,because I do plan be I go for what I want .the picture explained it very well.just look at that man who have already gone far in his quest for diamond ,gave up on the dying minute ,what if he put just a little strength more he would have achieved his aim.
We need determination,constancy and a good frame work (plan) before you go into anything in life so that we will not give up in the dying minute.
Thanks friend for this .
Remain blessed.
Hey Alex, you might also consider freelance writing to shore up your income in the short term. I know a place zerys.com that pays a minimum of .03 per word, or 30$ per 1000 words. You would write on titles that are created by content site owners. I've purchased content from them in the past, and I'm sure you could do it. There are other platforms, too. Fiverr.com, upwork.com, elance.com, etc. It might be a game changer for you.
Wow, thanks for the tip. That really could be useful.
"If necessity is the mother of invention, then desperation is the mother of motivation"-- that is the fact👍
..You are gifted sir and it's obvious..Don't give up..hard times makes you strong..Am definitely certain that you will make it in your publication... "Never give up, great things take time" .
never loose hope :)